Mark Usherovich, 2026
Spruce / Indian Rosewood
Overview
This 2026 concert guitar from Canadian luthier Mark Usherovich represents the latest chapter in a collaboration between GuitarCollection.com and one of today’s most thoughtful and meticulous double-top builders.
Those familiar with Mark’s instruments already know the qualities that define his work: astonishingly light construction, lush sustain, and a bass response that feels almost orchestral in its depth. This newest example takes those traits even further, incorporating what Mark describes as his latest and most refined soundboard design.
At the heart of the guitar is a spruce/Nomex double-top, constructed after using Mark’s proprietary carbonization process. This treatment produces a top that feels exceptionally open, responsive and lively, with a tonal character that combines warmth and maturity with remarkable clarity. The result is a guitar that reacts instantly under the fingers while maintaining a rich, blooming resonance.
Structurally, the instrument continues Mark’s elegant and minimal seven-fan braced architecture, refined to maximize sensitivity and sustain. The response is immediate and open, allowing the guitar to speak effortlessly with even the lightest touch while still producing tremendous projection when pushed.
The tonal character is captivating. The basses are expansive and deeply resonant, creating a sense of foundation that supports the entire instrument. The trebles remain clear, luminous, and beautifully balanced, carrying a singing sustain that gives the guitar an immersive, almost orchestral quality.
Beyond the sound, what becomes immediately apparent when spending time with this instrument is Mark’s extraordinary attention to detail. Every element of the guitar is considered carefully, from the weight of the tuners to the shape and mass of the headstock, each decision made with the belief that even the smallest structural detail contributes to the final voice of the instrument.
The bridge and saddle geometry are equally deliberate, designed to achieve a perfectly balanced distribution of tension and energy across the top. This careful calibration helps give the guitar its effortless responsiveness and remarkable sustain.
Visually, the instrument reflects the same level of care. Koa bindings frame the body beautifully, while an African blackwood headstock veneer adds depth and elegance to the overall aesthetic. The ebony fingerboard, strikingly figured, adds a subtle but luxurious visual character that complements the clean lines of the instrument.
A particularly charming detail appears inside the guitar: each label is hand-drawn by Mark’s wife, turning every instrument into a small piece of personal artwork as well as a concert guitar.
Having spent time with many of Mark’s instruments over the years, we can say without hesitation that this is his finest work yet.
Sound
The voice of this guitar is expansive, warm, and deeply resonant while remaining extraordinarily clear.
The low air resonance creates basses that feel powerful and foundational, yet they remain controlled and articulate rather than overwhelming. Even in drop D, the depth of the instrument feels almost subsonic while maintaining beautiful separation between notes.
The trebles are pure and singing, carrying a rich overtone structure that allows melodies to bloom and sustain naturally. Harmonics jump out effortlessly, and chords develop a lush, layered character as sympathetic vibrations interact across the instrument.
One of the most striking qualities is the sustain and sympathetic response. Notes seem to hover in the air after the initial attack, creating a sense that the guitar is constantly resonating and responding to itself.
Playability
Like Mark’s previous instruments, this guitar feels remarkably alive in the hands.
The neck profile is comfortable and inviting, encouraging relaxed playing while offering excellent control for both lyrical phrasing and articulate passages. The guitar’s extremely light construction allows it to respond immediately to subtle changes in right-hand color and dynamics.
Despite its modern double-top power and projection, the instrument retains an organic responsiveness that will feel familiar to players who love traditional Spanish guitars.
Specs
Year: 2026
Top: Carbonized Spruce / Nomex Double-Top
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood
Scale Length: 648 mm
Nut Width: 52 mm
Bracing: Refined 7-fan architecture
Finish: French polish top, back and sides
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Beautifully figured ebony
Bridge: Custom bridge and saddle geometry for optimized energy transfer
Bindings: Koa
Headstock Veneer: African Blackwood
Tuners: Barnett tuners
Label: Hand-drawn calligraphy label by Mark’s wife
About the Maker
Mark Usherovich has been building fine handmade concert classical and romantic guitars since 2004 and is currently based in Ontario, Canada.
Mark’s path into lutherie began in Jerusalem, Israel, where his early work crafting wooden skin drums shaped his understanding of rhythm, resonance, and vibration. His tonal ideals are deeply influenced by bowed instruments such as the violin and cello, whose rich complexity continues to inspire his guitars today.
He later studied extensively with Tom Blackshear of San Antonio, Texas, learning advanced techniques for fine-tuning body resonance and structural response. Building on this foundation, Mark developed his own distinctive approach that merges the warmth and depth of traditional Spanish guitars with the power, projection, and dynamic range of modern double-top construction.
Inspired by the legendary builders Santos Hernández, Antonio de Torres, and Miguel Rodríguez, Mark’s guitars are known for their remarkable lightness, sensitivity, and expressive tonal palette.
Worldwide shipping is available.
If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com
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